Wednesday morning news: December 17, 2025

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Military strike controversy latest » Republicans and Democrats continue to clash over U.S. military strikes against cartel drug boats — and one in particular … with Democrats demanding the Pentagon release video footage of that strike. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer:

SCHUMER:  We need full transparency, at least to the hundred senators, and much more transparency to the American people. We don't want another endless war. We don't want to stumble into something.

Many Democrats claim a followup strike in waters near Venezuela that killed two survivors of the initial strike was illegal.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth says he has decided not to release that video. But he and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also the acting national security advisor did brief lawmakers Tuesday on those counter-cartel operations. Rubio spoke with reporters after a Senate briefing.

RUBIO:  We're headed to the house now to do a similar briefing and provide updates on this counter-drug mission, which is focused on dismantling the infrastructure of these terrorist organizations that are operating in our hemisphere.

The Trump administration has designated Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua drug cartel and others as foreign terrorist groups, and the administration says they’re being dealt with accordingly.

Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune Tuesday punted on the question of whether the Pentagon should release the video footage. He kicked that question back to the Armed Services and Intelligence committees.

THUNE: Both of which have, I think, uh, great insights into how best to handle important sensitive, uh, information like this. And so I'm gonna trust their judgment on that.

President Trump is widely expected to touch on this issue in an address to the nation tonight.

Trump BBC lawsuit » President Trump has filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Corporation, saying a BBC documentary misrepresented his January 6, 2021 speech.

TRUMP:  I'm suing the BBC for putting words in my mouth, literally to put words in my mouth. They had me saying things that I never said coming out. I guess they used AI or something.

The suit, filed in federal court in Miami, accuses the broadcaster of defamation and violating Florida’s deceptive trade practices law. It claims the BBC’s Panorama program edited separate parts of Trump’s remarks to suggest he urged violence before the Capitol riot, omitting portions where he called for peaceful protest.

The BBC acknowledged the edit was an “error of judgment” and apologized, but denies it defamed Trump and says it will defend the case.

Moscow reparations for Ukraine war » Moscow should foot the bill to help rebuild Ukraine whenever the war finally comes to an end.

That’s the word from EU Foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who says the biggest challenge is funding the rebuilding of Ukraine.

But she points to a UN arrangement in the 1990s, after Iraq invaded Kuwait.

KALLAS:  United Nations Compensation Commission was able to use Iraqi oil revenues to pay reparations because a percentage of the oil sales went directly into the UN compensation fund. Russia is no less liable for the damage in Ukraine than Iraq for for the damage in Kuwait.

European leaders have launched an international commission to assess claims against Russia. Kallas is urging EU states to back plans to use frozen Russian assets to help pay compensation.

Zelenskyy on peace plan » Meantime, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Kyiv could finalize peace proposals for U.S. officials to present to Russia within days.

ZELENSKYY: [Speaking in Ukrainian]

He says that a draft peace plan discussed in Berlin with American and European officials this week is "very workable."

Zelenskyy added … "Of course, not all aspects are simple. There are complicated things, in particular the topic of territories.”

The Ukrainian president has signaled a willingness to compromise. But he has maintained that Ukraine will not surrender territory to Russia.

Jobs numbers » The U.S. added more than 60,000 jobs in November, but that modest gain came after a steep loss the month before. WORLD’s Benjamin Eicher reports:

BENJAMIN EICHER: The economy added about 64,000 jobs last month. However, that came after 105,000 jobs in October, according to new government data. Data has been delayed following the recent government shutdown.

Many economists say the October drop was expected and not alarming, but further evidence of a soft job market.

The unemployment rate climbed to 4.6%, the highest level in more than four years. Though that was due in part to more people entering the workforce.

Health care and construction added jobs in November, but manufacturing continued to shed workers.

Wages barely moved last month.

For WORLD I’m Benjamin Eicher.

Reiner update » Nick Reiner is now facing two first-degree murder charges in the death of his parents, famed film director Rob Reiner and producer Michele Singer Reiner.

Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman filed the charges on Tuesday:

HOCHMAN: These charges carry a maximum sentence of late basis without or the death penalty. No decision at this point has been made with respect to the death penalty… currently, Nick Reiner is being held without bail.

Authorities arrested the 32-year-old just hours after his parents were found dead with stab wounds in their Southern California home.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: Hunter Baker is standing by for Washington Wednesday. Plus, Chilean elections on World Tour.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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